Great Wall

As one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation, the Great Wall is the grandest military defense project in human civilization, carrying thousands of years of historical vicissitudes and cultural heritage. Like a winding giant dragon, it stretches across the mountains in northern China, starting from Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu Province in the west and ending at Shanhaiguan Pass in Hebei Province in the east, with a total length exceeding 20,000 kilometers. It is the largest and longest-standing ancient structure in the world.

The construction of the Great Wall dates back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (770-221 BC), when various vassal states built city walls to defend against foreign invasions. After unifying China, Emperor Qin Shi Huang connected and renovated the Great Walls of northern states, forming the prototype of the "Ten-Thousand-Li Great Wall." Subsequently, dynasties such as the Han, Sui, Tang, and Song continued to expand and maintain it. Most of the Great Wall we see today is the relic of large-scale renovations during the Ming Dynasty, embodying the extraordinary wisdom of ancient craftsmen.

The architectural art of the Great Wall is unparalleled. It is built along mountain ridges, undulating with the terrain, and skillfully utilizes natural barriers to enhance its defensive functions. The city walls, mainly made of bricks and stones, have an average height of about 7.8 meters, with the top wide enough for soldiers to march in formation. Both sides of the walls are equipped with battlements, observation holes, and embrasures for defense and surveillance. Beacon towers, built at regular intervals, were important military communication facilities in ancient times. By lighting beacon fires, they transmitted enemy information, forming an efficient early warning system. Passes, as key nodes of the Great Wall—such as Juyongguan Pass, Yanmen Pass, and Niangziguan Pass—were not only military fortresses but also important transportation hubs on the ancient Silk Road, witnessing national integration and cultural exchanges.

Today, the Great Wall is no longer a military defense line but a world-renowned tourist attraction. The majestic Badaling Great Wall, the forest-covered Mutianyu Great Wall, and the precipitous Simatai Great Wall, each with unique features, attract tens of millions of Chinese and foreign tourists every year. Standing atop the Great Wall, touching the weathered city walls, one can almost hear the echoes of history and feel the perseverance of the Chinese nation.

As a World Cultural Heritage, the Great Wall is not only a treasure of China but also a common wealth of all humanity. It carries the pride of "He who does not reach the Great Wall is not a true hero," witnesses the course of friendly exchanges between China and foreign countries, and serves as a cultural bridge connecting the past and the future, the East and the West.